University of Virginia Library

5262. MINISTERS (Foreign), Rejection.—

The public interest certainly made the rejection of Chevalier de Onis expedient, and
as that is a motive which it is not pleasant always
to avow, I think it fortunate that the
contending claims of Charles and Ferdinand
furnished such plausible embarrassment to the
question of right; for, on our principles, I presume,
the right of the Junta to send a minister
could not be denied.—
To President Madison. Washington ed. v, 480.
(M. Nov. 1809)